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"Lady Shen could tell with just a glance."

The letter that was supposed to arrive two days earlier was delayed on the road and only arrived this afternoon.

Shen Chuwei was already desperate to know its content.

After tearing open the envelope, her slender fingers reached in and returned with a letter in hand.

With a heart full of anticipation, she opened the letter, but upon reading it, she paused in bewilderment.

"My little nine, your husband is overwhelmed with excitement. Before meeting you, I had never thought I would become a father so soon."

Looking confused, Shen Chuwei turned to Qin Xiao and said, "Your Highness has gone psychic, to actually know about my good news."

"...This," Qin Xiao looked toward the little rabbit.

The little rabbit stepped out from behind Shen Chuwei silently and whispered, "Young Master, it was the servant who wrote to inform Your Highness."

Shen Chuwei turned to look at the little rabbit, "When did you write the letter? It couldn’t have been that fast."

"After the Young Master vomited from eating meat, the servant heard Chun Xi saying the Young Master had good news, so I wrote to tell Your Highness," said the little rabbit with a guilty conscience.

"Oh." Shen Chuwei lowered her head to continue reading the letter, then, suddenly remembering something, she raised her head to look at Qin Xiao, "Can the letter still be intercepted?"

Qin Xiao asked in confusion, "Lady Shen, why would you want to intercept it?"

Shen Chuwei replied, "If Your Highness already knows about my good news, wouldn’t informing him again be redundant?"

The little rabbit said apologetically, "It was my loose tongue. I should have let the Young Master inform Your Highness personally."

"It’s alright, I wrote about other things in the letter too." Shen Chuwei continued to read, Xiao Jinyan’s handwriting was indeed beautiful.

The only flaw was that his cryptic phrasing forced her to guess his meaning.

We’re husband and wife, can’t he write something more straightforward?

Look at the letter she wrote, how clear and easy to understand it is.

However, it was apparent that Xiao Jinyan was very happy to learn that he was going to be a father. w

Your husband will return shortly after winning the battle.

May my little nine stay healthy and joyful.

Shen Chuwei read the letter again, understanding its specific meaning.

Now, she could only wait for Xiao Jinyan to return.

At that moment, Xu Concubine entered swinging a small handkerchief, holding a fan in her hand, which she didn’t lower until she was inside.

"Lady Shen, what are you doing?"

Shen Chuwei neatly folded the letter back into the envelope, then looked up at Xu Concubine, "Your Highness sent a letter."

Xu Concubine, her face alight with curiosity, leaned in closer, "Did Your Highness say when he will return?"

Xu Concubine had been recuperating from her injuries for several days, as Shen Chuwei had told her that the wound on her cheek was rather deep and advised her to stay indoors until it was healed, suggesting there was no rush to go out until then.

Shen Chuwei said, "He didn’t specify a time, he only said he would return as soon as possible."

"It’s been over a month since he left," sighed Xu Concubine as she picked up the teacup and took a couple of sips.

Leaning close, Shen Chuwei whispered into Xu Concubine’s ear, "I’ve become pregnant."

Xu Concubine paused in her tea-drinking, turned to look at Shen Chuwei with surprise filling her eyes, "Really?"

Shen Chuwei touched her belly, "Of course it’s true."

"Thank heavens, finally." Xu Concubine slapped her thigh and said, "Have you informed the Emperor? Have the Emperor and Empress seen for themselves how you’re not barren?"

Shen Chuwei replied, "Let’s not make a fuss just yet. His Highness said we’ll discuss it upon his return."

"Oh." Xu Concubine immediately lowered her voice, "Then let’s not make a fuss, His Highness must have his reasons."

Shen Chuwei nodded vigorously, "I think so too."

Xu Concubine placed one hand on the low table, leaning over as she scrutinized Shen Chuwei’s belly, eventually unable to resist touching it.

When she felt the soft belly, although soft, there was not much fat.

Although Shen Chuwei had never given birth, she was a doctor. Even if she hadn’t specialized in this field, she still knew a bit.

"You can’t tell now; you should be able to tell around four months."

Xu Concubine asked, "How long have you been pregnant?"

Shen Chuwei replied, "Just over a month."

"That means we have to wait another three months?" Xu Concubine cried out in disappointment, "I can’t wait to see him born already."

Shen Chuwei couldn’t help but laugh, "That will take at least nine months."

"It’s too hard to wait." Xu Concubine, who was not known for her patience, sighed.

"It’s not so bad," Shen Chuwei said, considering that she had been here for over a year now, living without much care and finding the time flying by quickly.

The letter was delivered to the Military Camp a few days later.

This was Xiao Jinyan’s third victory, but the enemy was relentless in their tenacity, refusing to give up.

Xiao Jinyan’s strategies and tactics won the hearts and loyalty of his generals and officers.

Upon returning to his tent, Xiao Jinyan called for a meeting with his generals without even having the time to take off his Kirin Armor, aiming for the next victory.

The meeting that lasted two hours finally concluded after all matters were discussed.

Xiao Jinyan returned to his own tent and ordered a hot bath to be prepared.

At that moment, Weichi strode in, holding a letter, "Master, there’s another letter from the palace."

Xiao Jinyan’s heart tightened when he heard another letter had arrived from the palace, having just received a letter from Xiaoxiang Pavilion; this was yet another...

He extended his hand, "Hand it over."

Weichi presented it with both hands.

Xiao Jinyan took the letter and tore it open on the spot.

Before opening it, he had imagined all possibilities.

He even thought about serious issues like little nine’s pregnancy becoming known.

In the midst of his worried and nervous thoughts, Xiao Jinyan’s slender fingers pulled out the letter from inside and slowly unfolded it.

My dear Your Highness,

My beloved husband, how are you doing over there?

(... ten thousand words of longing omitted ...)

Congratulations to Your Highness on becoming a father.

Are you happy?

Are you surprised?

Hehe! Your concubine is well, looking forward to your triumphant return!

Written personally by your concubine, with a super sweet smile.

When Shen Chuwei first wrote the opening of the letter, she felt that "My dear Your Highness" was too formal and official.

So she added another phrase below, "My beloved husband", to be official yet intimate and casual.

Upon reading the opening lines, Xiao Jinyan’s nerves, tense the past few days, relaxed instantly, and his features softened with ease.

The harshness in his eyes was replaced by gentleness.

His eyes were filled with surprise.

He did not expect a personal letter from little nine; the surprise was all the greater because it was unexpected.

But...

Xiao Jinyan stared at the part where ten thousand words of longing were omitted, slightly dissatisfied; if she missed him so much, why not write it out?

Without writing it out, how could he understand the extent of little nine’s longing?

"To be without a glimpse of you for a single day is pure agony."

This was what Xiao Jinyan had written back.

That line was enough to show the depth of his longing for little nine.

Xiao Jinyan examined the letter over and over again; her letter was unlike any other.

Frank and unembellished.

"Prepare brush, ink, paper, and inkstone."

Weichi carried out the order and laid out the writing materials on the desk.

Xiao Jinyan sat down at the desk, placed the letter beside his left hand, and began to write.

Separated by a thousand miles, letters are the only avenue to express the bitterness of longing.